Simulation exercise: Foot and mouth disease in Spain

Dr Valentín Almansa, Director General of Health in Agricultural Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Madrid, Spain, informs the OIE that a field simulation exercise on foot and mouth disease, is taking place in the border area between Spain and Portugal, from 12 to 14 March 2019.

This exercise is supported and coordinated by EuFMD and includes a farm visit and a table exercise for group work. The exercise will be based on a suspicion of foot and mouth disease in the border area between Spain and Portugal, and will include the participation of veterinarians from both countries.

The main objective of this simulation exercise, which will involve the Official Veterinary Services of Portugal and Spain, including for this latter country the participation of autonomous communities bordering Portugal, aims at fostering mutual knowledge, coordination and exchange of information between veterinarian services on both sides of the border, with a view to improving the response capacity to health emergency situations due to the occurrence of food and mouth disease suspicions in the border area between Spain and Portugal.

The specific objectives of this simulation exercise are to evaluate the following points:

Updating of foot and mouth disease knowledge, worldwide health situation with special attention to circulating serotypes in the Mediterranean area, including aspects on the role of wildlife.

Facilitate communication and collaboration of the Official Veterinary Services of Spain and Portugal in the border area.

Evaluation of contingency plans of both countries for the detection and correction of deficiencies if relevant.

Identify opportunities to improve communication and information exchange protocols between Official Veterinary Services on both sides of the border.

Visit to suspicious farm and table-top exercises in groups comprising representatives of both countries for discussion and joint approach of the proposed tasks in relation to the actions of Official Veterinary Services both at the level of the suspicious farm and Local Crisis Centre.

Increased mutual knowledge of protocols and contingency plans in relation to foot and mouth disease.